Ward Burton returning to NASCAR!!

[TeamBlueOval]

Ward & Jeb Burton to run trucks with Hillman Racing: After a five-year absence from competing in a NASCAR race, Ward Burton will drive at Daytona in February in the NextEra Energy 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. Burton and his 19-year-old son, Jeb, have teamed with Hillman Racing in the Truck Series to run the #27 Chevy this season. Burton, the 2002 Daytona 500 winner and brother of current Richard Childress Racing team member Jeff Burton, stepped away from the sport in 2007 to help Jeb's racing career as well as work with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. Burton had five career wins in in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and four in the Nationwide Series. Jeb moves up from the NASCAR Whelen All-American series to the Truck Series. Ward will race at Daytona because Jeb is not yet qualified to run at Daytona. Burton also will make select starts throughout the truck series schedule. The younger Burton will make his debut behind the wheel in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville on March 31. Atop the pit box for the #27 will be Richmond native Trip Bruce, who worked with Burton in his Sprint Cup days at Bill Davis Racing.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(1-26-2012)

-Jayski

Great news!! Will be glad to see Ward back for a few races!!

[RacingDude]

Whooooooooo-hoo! It'll be awesome just to see him racing.

[DeeDee]

[ARTICLE=Burton & Hillman debut at Daytona; State Water Heaters to sponsor:]Ward Burton and the #27 State Water Heaters Chevrolet Silverado Hillman Raing Team are set to make their debut at Daytona International Speedway. Trip Bruce, who led Johnny Benson to a truck series championship in 2008, will be atop the pit box calling the shots for Ward Burton as he makes his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this weekend. Besides Ward Burton's first career NCWTS start this weekend, Daytona will mark the first race for Hillman Racing in NASCAR competition. Team owner Mike Hillman Sr. played a key role in the founding of Germain Racing and was the architect of the group's two NASCAR championships in 2006 and 2010. Hillman acquired the championship-winning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series assets following the conclusion of the 2011 season and is set to embark as the owner and general manager of Hillman Racing for the 2012 season. State Water Heaters returns as a primary sponsor in NASCAR's big three touring series with a look reminiscent of its first race in 2006. The #27 paint scheme was inspired by State's first race in the Sprint Cup Series at Talladega. [Image posted on the #27 NCWTS Paint Schemes Page.] Burton captured the 2002 Daytona 500 driving for Bill Davis Racing, and has a total of 25 career NASCAR starts at Daytona between the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. In 375 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, Burton has posted fives wins, seven poles and 24 top-five and 82 top-10 finishes. Burton also has four NASCAR Nationwide Series victories, seven poles, 23 top-five and 50 top-10 finishes in 161 starts.(Hillman Racing PR)(2-22-2012)[/ARTICLE]